The coronavirus outbreak has shaken many industries, economies and lives of countless people down to the very core. Indeed, we are living in unprecedented times, and what sounded like science fiction mere weeks ago has become a reality.

In the UK we have experienced an essential lock down, and everything from public places to schools have been closed by the pandemic. As such, it’s little surprise that many dental practices and dental professionals have been impacted too. This has revealed the necessity for certain steps both now and in the future, especially if you want to safeguard yourself, and your business.

Help for the self-employed

Dentists are unique in that many of them are deemed self-employed by the Government. During the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, no help was offered to those that were self-employed in terms of supporting their income, especially for those who already earned over £50,000 per annum. Of course, by the time this is published that might have changed, but the best way to move forwards with this and protect your income from other potential interruptions in the future is to look at getting Income Protection Insurance.

This type of policy protects a portion of your wages in the event that certain conditions are met and you are then unable to work for a period of time. Though these conditions are usually accidents or illness, it’s likely that certain policies will be rewritten following this outbreak to protect against this sort of event as well.

Currently, there are still a number of things that self-employed professionals should be aware of that the Government have made accessible. The first of these is the fact that many will be able to take advantage of mortgage payment deferrals and self-tax assessment deferrals, which should be providing some temporary relief. This situation is changing all of the time, however, and it could well be that relief for self-employed individuals is suggested before this article is published and that better measures have been put in place that dentists can benefit from.

Help for small businesses

Unless part of a corporate, it’s generally assumed that dental practices will fall under the umbrella of small businesses, and therefore be eligible for certain reliefs and assistance. However, there are caveats attached to this, so it’s a good idea to look into these before making an application.

To qualify for the CBIL (Coronavirus Interruption Business Loan) your practice must:

• Be UK based with business activity, and make no more than £45 million a year

• Operate within an eligible industrial sector

• Confirm that it hasn’t received £200,000 of state aid over the current and previous two fiscal financial years

• Be unable to meet a lender’s normal lending requirements for a fully commercial loan or other facility, but would be considered viable for the long term.

Of course, looking at these points alone it can be difficult to decipher what’s going on. If your practice offers a mixture of both NHS and private services, does this still make you eligible? The waters are murky, but it does seem that practices that are receiving NHS support are not viable for the receipt of this loan. Again, this may very well change in the near future, but as the Government’s response to this crisis is very reactionary, this is something that professionals should be checking on a daily basis if they want to keep on top of the developing situation.

Guidance now and in the future

As you can see, it’s not easy to summarise or even fully understand the impact the virus has had on the dental industry and the associated financial assets and insurances tied to it. Added to all this is the fact that some insurance products aren’t paying out in the current situation, highlighting the importance of getting the right policy. Therefore, the best thing to do is to seek the help of an Independent Financial Adviser and to review your finances and all the policies in place.

The award-winning team at money4dentists are well placed to help with all of your enquiries during and following the coronavirus pandemic. By giving direct, clear guidance about Insurance Policies, Income Protection, Financial Planning, Savings, and more, the team can help you achieve any goals you have set for the future as well as help you navigate through the confusion that has occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s always best to get advice

Although the coronavirus is a lifetime first for most people, there’s every chance that other rapidly changing scenarios will occur in the future. By enlisting the help of Independent Financial Advisers, you can always get the best advice and ensure that you are well protected, armed with knowledge and ready for whatever comes.

For more information please call 0845 345 5060 or 0754DENTIST.

Email info@money4dentists.com or visit www.money4dentists.com

The Foundation in Implant Dentistry (FID) presented by the International Team for Implantology (ITI) is a highly coveted training course for clinicians in the UK. It offers blended learning implant education for those who wish to get involved in the field without a long-term commitment straightaway.

At the recent launch of the 2020 cohort, Course Director, Eoin O’Sullivan, highlighted what he feels make the course stand out from others:

“The FID is clinicians’ first step on their journey into dental implantology. The course itself is a very structured programme that is based on science and is supported by a very experienced training faculty. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that the FID course is a highly relatable programme and is accessible to dentists from all kinds of backgrounds.”

Logical, patient-centred approach

Charlotte Stilwell, ITI President-Elect and therefore soon to be the first female President of the organisation, was keen to show how the teaching offers a practical and patient-centred approach to the field. Having founded the FID 10 years ago, her continued involvement has provided a unique level of continuity and drive. She said:

“The first module looks at a case presentation and discusses all possible treatment options before exploring implants within this patient focused context. It’s about providing treatment in the best interests of patients from the very beginning. The programme is structured in the same way to ensure delegates approach each situation just as they would in practice. This ensures the practicality of the course, allowing delegates to easily apply what they learn to everyday clinical scenarios. This also keeps patients at the heart of everything clinicians do to optimise the patient journey.

“We have worked hard to keep the programme relevant to the clinician,” she commented. “It teaches exactly what dentists need to know, at the foundation level of implant dentistry. The ITI SAC Classification categorisation of implant cases into ‘straightforward’, ‘advanced’ and ‘complex’ greatly assists with this. It is a clear learning outcome of the first module of the FID that the participating  clinicians learn to use this globally accepted and adopted Classification to distinguish between cases in each group. After this, the programme focuses on ‘straightforward’ cases to ensure delegates progress within their remit.”

Mentoring

Mentoring is another huge aspect of the programme and for good reason, as Ross Cutts, ITI Fellow and course speaker, went on to highlight:

“The aim of the course is to teach clinicians to provide safe, predictable and effective implant treatment. The mentoring programme is therefore crucial – you don’t know what you don’t know and only a more experienced dentist can highlight any potential issues before they occur.”

As Charlotte describes, they strive to ensure the quality of mentorship with ITI recommended criteria:

“We defined the mentoring criteria for the FID from the outset to ensure that delegates work with mentors who have the appropriate knowledge, expertise and experience. Delegates have access to the ITI register of mentors, or they can work with other colleagues they know to meet the criteria we have recommended to ensure quality of the mentorship they receive.”

Introducing digital dentistry

Over the past ten years, the evidence-based focus of the FID has remained constant, but the programme has been enhanced and added to remain relevant.

“Although the fundamentals don’t change, the course has gradually evolved over time,” commented Eoin. “For this year we have added a digital module in order to offer training beyond the foundation level. It extends the learning experience for delegates to include didactic teaching that caters up to an intermediate level of the ITI Curriculum. I feel that digital is becoming an everyday part of the implant workflow. It is therefore now important to include within the FID course.”

Ross reiterated the benefits of digital dentistry, especially for clinicians learning initial skills in implantology:

“I believe digital dentistry makes dental implant procedures more predictable with less operator error, especially for less experienced dentists. Once the digital techniques and technologies are mastered, dentists can greatly improve their clinical outcomes.”

A community and extensive resource

All delegates on the course are also introduced to the ITI community of more than 21,000 members and the enormous evidence base that the ITI adheres to. As such, they have access to comprehensive resource to support their learning. Colin Burns, ITI Fellow and a speaker on the course explained:

“There are no other courses with access to a unique resource like the ITI’s, which includes its own Academy and curriculum. The problem with some implant training is that it is over-complicated. Clinicians need to develop from a solid foundation of knowledge. The FID and ITI community facilitate this.”

Ross added:

“The best aspect of the ITI for me, is the sense of family and belonging you get as a member. Everyone is very welcoming and inclusive.”

Industry support

Straumann is proud to have worked with the ITI for several decades and to continue supporting the FID today. About the relationship, Colin said:

“Educational courses of a certain calibre can only exist today with commercial support. However, it’s important for education to retain independence from commercial influence to avoid any bias and maintain its integrity. We have had a strong relationship with Straumann for the last 40 years. We believe in the way that Straumann products support the FID, which is why we choose to use and teach them.”

Charlotte added:

“Our relationship with Straumann today provides the ideal partnership between industry and a scientifically independent global academic organisation. The company satisfies our criteria for evidence-based products, which we utilise to demonstrate all implant solutions we use and teach.”

A valuable stepping stone

The FID provides a stepping stone into further postgraduate education – it is a recognised credit towards an MSc in implant dentistry or enables delegates to progress through the ITI education pathway. Colin summarised the course eloquently:

“For me, the key features of the FID are that it provides an engaging and structured programme with flexibility to suit clinicians that have other professional or personal commitments.”

Charlotte added:

“This course does what it says it’s going to do. It provides an excellent start into implant dentistry with a comprehensive, controlled and yet not overwhelming programme. In addition, it is backed by the national and global ITI network and wealth of educational resources, providing further opportunity for individuals to support their way onwards in dental implantology.”

For more information about the FID and future cohorts, please visit www.skill.straumann.com/en-GB/Home

Step into the digital age of sterilization with the new and improved Lisa type B sterilizer from W&H. It uses advanced Eco Dry+ technology to adapt the drying time to the mass of each load. This reduces the cycle time, minimises energy consumption, and increases the service life of your instruments.

With Lisa’s intelligent EliSense function, clinicians can now monitor cycle status, temperature information, and much more for increased output and a streamlined workflow. Lisa also offers enhanced documentation facilities through EliTrace, which ensures complete traceability back to the single instrument without any paper handling or dedicated hardware and software.

Find out what else Lisa could offer you by contacting W&H today. 

To find out more visit www.wh.com/en_uk, call 01727 874990 or email office.uk@wh.com

If you are looking to offer domiciliary services in order to maximise access to dental care for elderly patients, use products you can trust.

J&S Davis is renowned for providing an array of industry-leading solutions – among these you’ll find the BPR Swiss range of mobile dental units. The comprehensive portable portfolio includes various clinical carts and dental treatment units, maximising flexibility and efficiency for dental professionals.

Each product is fabricated from premium products and under stringent quality-control processes to give you and your patients compete peace of mind. The elegant and compact designs optimise mobility and make compliance with infection control standards as simple as possible.

To find out how these portable BPR Swiss solutions could help you to deliver the essential dental care your vulnerable patients need, contact J&S Davis or your preferred dental dealer.

For more information on the industry-leading products available from J&S Davis, visit www.js-davis.co.uk, call 01438 747 344 or email jsdsales@js-davis.co.uk

Supporting healthcare facilities across the UK, including urgent care dental practices, Initial Medical is offering a collection and disposal service for waste contaminated or potentially contaminated with Coronavirus.

According government guidance, any waste generated from the treatment of known or suspected Coronavirus patients must be disposed of as Category B waste. That means orange on the Department of Health’s best practice colour code for waste disposal, including the relevant bags, rigid containers and sharps containers.

Here to help customers stay compliant in any situation, Initial Medical now offers your go-to solution for safe collection and disposal of any waste possibly contaminated with Coronavirus. Give the team a call today for more information.

As a producer of any controlled waste in the UK, it is your legal responsibility under your Duty of Care to ensure the correct and proper management of the waste you generate. In order to support your waste disposal practices, Initial Medical’s unique e-learning platform ‘myLearning’ provides a flexible solution to waste management and infection control training, and is accessible 24/7.   

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045

-Ends-

About Initial Medical

Initial Medical is an expert in healthcare waste management, providing a complete collection, disposal and recycling service for hazardous and non-hazardous waste and offensive waste produced by healthcare providers, and other businesses and organisations within the UK.

The safe management of healthcare waste is vital to ensure your activities are not a risk to human health.  Initial Medical’s healthcare waste services ensure that all of your waste is stringently handled in compliance with legislation and in accordance with Safe Management of Healthcare Waste best practice guidelines, providing you with the peace of mind that you are adhering to current legislation.

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045

Media enquiries:

For more information, please contact:

erica@ekcommunications.net

01227 265700

When working as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, it can feel like you aren’t receiving adequate support, especially if you work between multiple practices.

So why not join a Society of likeminded individuals who will help you flourish in your career?

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is a welcoming, friendly Society that helps inspire and drive dental hygienists and dental therapists to excel while giving them a platform to voice their views to the rest of the industry.

Membership benefits include bonuses such as discounted rates to the renowned Oral Health Conference (OHC), access to Study Days that can help individuals take control of how they develop in their profession and unique perks such as BSDHT Indemnity.

To find out more, contact the team at the BSDHT today.

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk

call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk